text:
Auburn Calendar
Toomer's Corner Live Cam
Football Recruiting Headquarters
Auburn Sports Network - Listen Here
AuburnFamilyNews.com Amazon Shop
Auburn Amazon Shop
Staff Picks - #8 Auburn @ #16 Texas A&M
Julie Bennett-USA TODAY Sports
Road underdogs, time to kick this season off.
So, we're 3-0. Cool. Couple of wins over Kent State and Tulane followed the big victory over Oregon, but now it's time for SEC play.
Candidly, the College and Mag group chat has been nervous this week. There were times when we didn't have a ton of confidence in the Tigers as they head out to College Station. However, if you think we're not collectively Barning Hard, you're sadly, sadly mistaken.
#8 Auburn @ #16 Texas A&M (-4) (O/U 48)
Here we go, folks. Auburn's first real test. Yes, the opening week battle in Arlington mattered, and Oregon is certainly a great team that tested Auburn to its limits. However, nothing matters more than SEC wins, and nothing prepares a true freshman quarterback for his first game in a hostile environment. Bo Nix will be behind an offensive line that may not have great chemistry. He'll have to overcome communication issues. I would expect a few false starts and delay of game penalties.
Auburn has one of the best defenses in the country, including (probably) the best defensive line. Kellen Mond had a QBR of 73 and 87.3 against Lamar and Texas State, respectively. However, against Clemson, that number dropped all the way to 59.8. I don't think he'll ever get comfortable enough to throw with ease against our line. However, this take depends on the health of Derrick Brown. Auburn's superstar, future first rounder needs to have an impact tomorrow night. Auburn will need him at 100%. Auburn 30, Texas A&M 28.
-Josh Dub
It's a huge weekend for both Auburn and Texas A&M. Auburn looks to silence the many critics from the fanbase while A&M looks to avoid it's 2nd loss after 4 weeks. This is the first road environment that Bo Nix will face as a collegiate. We saw signs of the running back being more efficient last week but can they do that against an SEC defense? Will the Offensive Line be able to block for Boobee Whitlow, Bo Nix and others? On defense, I would expect Derrick Brown to play but if not, Tyrone Truesdell has stepped up big time along with Marlon Davidson and others on the D-Line. There's no Trayveon Williams at Running Back but there is Kendrick Rogers at Wide Receiver. How will Iggy and Roger McCreary matchup on him and the other Aggie receivers? Clemson held them to 10 points and I think Auburn can do just enough to come out of College Station with a huge win! Auburn 27 Texas A&M 21.
-Will McLaughlin
In my pretend expert opinion, there are 3 swing games that will determine whether this is a good, average or bad year for the Tigers
@ A&M
@ UF
vs UGA
As of today, it's hard to feel great about Auburn's chances winning on the road in Baton Rouge or beating Bama. That's not to say they can't or won't do either. It's just recognizing that AU hasn't won in Death Valley in 20 years and Alabama's offense having the pieces to exploit some vulnerabilities in Auburn's defense. The rest of the games SHOULD be wins even if they end up closer than we like. That leaves those 3 contests as vitally important.
Go 3-0 and all of a sudden those other two look very winnable or at least you got a 10 win regular season. 2-1 is what I am expecting which would likely lead to a 9+ win regular season giving AU chance at a 10th win in a bowl. 1-2 is danger zone and puts Auburn in the worst place. A coach sitting on possibly another 8-4/7-5 season with a buyout that isn't necessarily reasonable to make a move on. 0-3 and it's time to fire up the coaching hot boards.
As for A&M, this game holds similar importance. Only the Aggies and Gamecocks can challenge Auburn's claim for toughest schedule in America. A&M has already gone on the road and lost to Clemson. They still have to host Alabama and finish the season with road games in Athens and Baton Rouge. Lose this game and Jimbo is staring down the barrel of a 7-5 year at best. They didn't pay him that ungodly contract for more Sumlin success.
All that to say, I expect both teams to empty every round they have in their chamber to ensure they come away with a victory. Gus has undoubtedly put some things on film to setup big plays down the road. Pull em out now if you got em. Starting the SEC gauntlet with this type of a win can be the energy shot you need to go onto have a special season. Lose and you have to wonder if you got what it takes to compete against the best this season.
Matchup wise, I expect this game to be dominated by defense. A&M and Auburn both have outstanding front 7s who excel at smothering the opposing rushing attack. The Aggies are down their starting RB, have an inconsistent QB, some questions still on the offensive line and a case of the dropsies at wideout. Auburn has an inconsistent OL, a true freshman QB starting on road for the first time, questions at running back and could be down their best wide receiver. If either team reaches 30 points I will be shocked.
Before the season I had this penciled in as a loss. First road game for Bo vs a defense that dominated most of last year's matchup before Jarrett Stidham caught fire. Add in Gus's general struggles to be ranked teams on the road and it's easy to see why the Aggies would be the favorite.
BUT WE BARN HARD HERE DAMNIT
Until this team falls on their face I am going to keep believing. I actually trust Bo more than Mond in the big moments and I think Auburn's defense will prove more elite than the Aggies'. Nix leads another remarkable 4th quarter drive to put AU up late and the defense stands tall to seal the victory. AU escapes College Station with a very important first SEC win. Auburn 23 A&M 20.
-AU Nerd
At first blush, I really don't like this game. Yeah, yeah, true freshman, first road start, salty d-line vs French Army-esque Offensive line trying to protect said freshman, blah blah blah. The main thing I will be watching for is to see if Seth Williams and Derrick Brown are both in the game and can give meaningful minutes to both sides of the ball. I am going to go against my better judgement because I want to believe and get hurt again. Auburn straight up and take the under. Tigers 24-16.
-Drew Mac
There are so many unknowns for Auburn in this game. Do Derrick Brown, Seth Williams, and Tega play? Do none of them play? You could argue those three guys are the most irreplaceable players on the roster, and Auburn will need all three of them to win. Is Bo Nix ready to stand up to an SEC pass rush? Oregon gave him trouble a few weeks ago in his first career start, but A&M will probably do a better job of shutting down the run game than the Ducks, putting the offense in Bo's hands. Ultimately, this is an early season elimination game for these two teams. The winner will cement themselves as a contender in the West with LSU and Alabama, and the loser will more than likely become the #4 team in the division. And trust me, either team that loses this game will have a restless fan base.
I'm a firm believer in Auburn's defense right now. The few busts they've made in the last two games have been when the secondary is over-aggressive in chasing interceptions, something I think will begin to pay off soon. Mond has thrown a pick in every game so far this season, and if the defense can pull one in with good field position, that will be the difference in the game. Otherwise, Arryn Siposs will have his hands (legs?) full trying to win a punting battle with A&M punter Braden Mann, a battle I'm not sure we can win. Auburn's not losing to Aggy, though. 24-14 Tigers.
-Ryan Sterritt
This feels like an impossible pick. My head is telling me one thing and my heart is pulling hard for another. I look at this game as a continuation of what I've said for the first three games of the year…what Auburn does will dictate victory or defeat.
Texas A&M is a quality opponent with a QB in his second year of a complex, successful system that is known for one thing above all others…getting that QB paid in the NFL, deserving or not. Kellen Mond is a far cry from some of Jimbo's better QB's at FSU, but he is absolutely capable of making enough throws to beat some of the better teams in the SEC. A&M's rushing attack has taken a hit with the loss of Vernon Jackson, who is likely to never play football again. I expect A&M to still attempt to establish the run early, and build in the play-action game and 3-5 Mond runs to attempt to keep the Auburn defense honest. I have no idea what to expect from A&M's defense aside from a strong inside presence at the line of scrimmage. GOOD THING RUNNING INSIDE HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US OR ANYTHING!
Here's where I'm at with my head…Auburn's rushing attack is mindlessly frustrating to watch. The play-calling has been fine in my opinion, it's simply that the execution has been lacking due to proper personnel to run even the Inside Zone, a staple of Gus' offense. Bo Nix has been coached to not read the entire field by this point as we're trying to bring him along at a pace that limits his ability to go full Favre and force throws that can cost us a game. And Auburn's defense has struggled mightily early on in games against a scripted offense. This game is on the road in an environment that is far less daunting than people like to recognize because it's not as loud as you'd think. Playing at A&M is like playing at Arkansas or Alabama. They get loud but they don't stay loud. I'm never going to be accused of being totally objective, but if I was going with my head I would take A&M 24 Auburn 16, as I expect our offensive line to struggle and Bo Nix to have to put the team on his back yet again. He's capable, but it's starting to ask a lot of a true freshman if he doesn't have any help on the ground.
Fortunately for you, dear reader, and for my sanity's sake, I'm not picking with my head. Reason being is that there are so many keys to this game that can very easily push us over the top that my heart believes we will check off just enough of these boxes to get the W. That being said, here are Auburn's keys to victory:
Rush for 150 yards or more – Just give us something of a push in the middle, OL, and we dictate this game.
The presence of a true alternate every down back in DJ Williams. Whitlow needs some help, and DJ is the best shot we have to add a spark in the ground game. I'd like to see him get 5-8 carries to spell Boobie and give us more than a change of pace back there.
Defense needs to impose their will up front early, play smarter on the screens, and get off the field on 3rd down…especially early in each half so that we force the Aggie sideline to get off the script and actually work to sustain drives. If we win battles with our defense early, it's going to be a good day.
Give Roger McCreary some snaps in place of Javaris Davis on the outside. He's earned it and has been the more consistent of the two these past 3 weeks.
GIVE US SOME HANG TIME…punt coverage is poor. Don't give them a chance.
Involve Joey Gatewood in the game with the 1's and LET HIM THROW 2-3 PASSES. Bo is our starter. That's not going to change and I don't think it should. But Joey provides us a spark and gives us something on the ground that can extend plays/drives. He needs to be more involved on Saturday.
Anthony Schwartz needs to be targeted in multiple routes this week to free up some double coverage on Seth and/or Eli. Also, if there was ever a time for a crossing pattern to rejoin the Auburn offense, this weekend would be a good time to start.
Don't put out kicker into a position where he's kicking outside of 45 yards. With this defense, a punt to pin Mond and Co. deep is not the worst option.
HANG ON TO THE DADGUM FOOTBALL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE BOOBIE I CAN'T TAKE SEEING YOU PUT ANOTHER ONE ON THE GROUND OR ELSE I MAY LOSE MY MIND.
Honestly, if Auburn checks off boxes 1 & 3 from above they win this game. It'll be close, but that's what has to happen for us to get out of Aggieland with a W and set this season up for some real, legitimate hope. I'm not ready to give validity to tweets from a literal crazy person out in California about a member of the Board of Trustees. I'm not going to get into a mindset of thinking Auburn needs to make a change. I believe this program is doing the best it can on the field, and I'm going to believe that our personnel issues are fixable, both in this season and beyond. This football season is too dang young for all of that negative nonsense. Furthermore, the grass on this side of things is greener than some want to admit. We've never lose in College Station, and that enabling, lying, snake of a head coach over there may be getting rich off of A&M's stupidity, but it sure doesn't mean he should have another day of happiness at our expense. We're going to win this game and it is going to give us some serious momentum to survive the next few weeks. Auburn 24 Texas A&M 20.
-Josh Black
This is the first(or second if you count Oregon) in a long line of real tests Auburn will face this season. If they come out of this one unscathed, it will say a lot about the TIgers' prospects for the rest of the season. I say this not because I think Texas A&M is particularly good, but because they have a strength (defensive line) that is matched up against our biggest weakness (offensive line). This is also a huge test for Bo Nix. Kyle Field is loud. Not nearly as loud and wild as advertised (I was there in 2013, in field level, in their student section, so I feel pretty comfortable with my sample size) but still loud. This could be pretty daunting for a true freshman. However, Bo is not your average true freshman and I think he goes on the road and continues to show the unflappability he's shown all year and the good guys get the win. Tigers 28 - Fake Military Bros 17.
-AU Chief
Gus' record in "big games" is something his fiercest detractors (read:idiots) usually bring up. The problem is, the goalpost of "big game" is often moved after Gus wins the game. This is a big game. It's a big game just like Oregon was a big game. Win this game and the probability that Auburn wins 9 or more games this season goes way up. I'm not josh dub, but I'm pretty sure that's true. If Auburn loses this game, it will need to beat some teams a sight better than the aggies to get to 9 wins. Guys, 9-10 wins is the goal. An unbiased observer would look at this Auburn schedule and think a 9-10 win season would earn a parade through Toomer's corner. If Gus goes 2-0 through the first two tests of this young season then buddy we have a chance for this to be a special year.
I think Aggy will score on us. Not like 40 points or anything, but I don't see us shutting them down to two scoring drives or anything like that. Mond is real good. He's gonna get his. Often times, you have to take away the weaker aspect of a team in order to limit the damage the stronger aspect can do to you. This is one of those times. If Auburn can't completely shut down Aggy's ability to run the ball at all, making them one-dimensional, then I think Auburn can score enough on offense to keep up.
On offense, I think this is the game Bo Nix is let loose. Or at least I hope it is. Auburn can't afford to get one dimensional itself, and Bo Nix finding five or six different receivers this game might be what Auburn needs. I hope he can do it. I hope he's allowed to do it.
I'm picking Auburn because I genuinely think the defense is great and because I hate the aggies. Auburn 30 Aggy 23.
-Son of Crow
I think Auburn has more talent and has the best "group" in the matchup (their defensive line). The reason's for concern is whether or not Auburn's running game is really coming around, and Auburn starting a true freshman quarterback. I think Gus keeps things close to the vest, leans on the running game and a (LORD I HOPE) improved punt game than the first two weeks. If this goes over, it's because Auburn had to cut the offense loose and the defense didn't get enough stops. Auburn 23, Texas A&M 17. (Auburn wins and covers, UNDER)
-James Jones
In much the same way that Oregon was kind of our first test of the year, it's so hard to put a ton of stock into first games. Last year, we beat Washington and lost a couple weeks later to LSU. This A&M team isn't as good as that LSU team, but we're on the road this weekend. There are still a ton of questions about Auburn, and I don't know if we've seen ample answers through the previous two games, wherein I'm positive that Gus Malzahn sharpie-d out like 95% of his playbook because he knew he wouldn't need it.
We need to just flip to the back half of it for tomorrow, and let Bo run the dipsy-doodle and the kitchen sink and the razzmatazz zoomberry express. If he makes a mistake, it means he learns now instead of later. It'll likely happen anyway, so let's get it out of the way, and who knows... it could end up great. I'm hoping that we've been getting him used to the college game and now we're going to let him show what he can really do with the full capability of this offense. Of course, the offensive line and skill position injuries could be a problem. Ugh.
Defensively, I don't think Clemson's defense is much better (if at all) than ours, so I'm confident that we can hold A&M to two touchdowns or less. I think the offense gets two or more touchdowns, and as much as Ryan Sterritt loves Aggie punter Braden Mann (weird idol, Ryan), I like Christian Tutt more. We get a special teams touchdown and a couple field goals, and it's a more comfortable win than we expect. Auburn to 4-0 with a 27-14 win.
-Jack Condon
from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/9/20/20875098/staff-picks-8-auburn-16-texas-a-m
Labels: auburn, auburn fast, Auburn News, auburn university, AuburnFamilyNews, AuburnFast, espn, facebook, football news, ourtime, sec, SECNETWORK, sports, twitter, war eagle, WarEagle
Gene Chizik on chicken fingers, why he never left Auburn, when he might return to coaching
AuburnFamilyNews.com
Follow @aufamilynews
Auburn football: Grading Bryan Harsin's coaching hires
Tracy Rocker Returning Home
Yes, it's that time again
Five Possible Defensive Coordinator Candidates
Auburn football: Anthony Schwartz addresses Citrus Bowl absence
LOCKED ON AUBURN: Bryan Harsin won over the Auburn fanbase on Christmas Eve
LOCKED ON AUBURN: Harsin's staff is coming into place
Auburn football: Bama Hammer wrongly skeptical of Tigers HC search
Auburn football: Dell McGee is perfect fit for Bryan Harsin's staff
Auburn football: QB recruit Davis dominates in Texas HS playoffs
Blog Archive January 2021 (115) December 2020 (165) November 2020 (181) October 2020 (227) September 2020 (194) August 2020 (155) July 2020 (165) June 2020 (134) May 2020 (96) April 2020 (120) March 2020 (130) February 2020 (217) January 2020 (202) December 2019 (169) November 2019 (248) October 2019 (255) September 2019 (331) August 2019 (212) July 2019 (147) June 2019 (149) May 2019 (134) April 2019 (252) March 2019 (274) February 2019 (286) January 2019 (241) December 2018 (265) November 2018 (391) October 2018 (543) September 2018 (762) August 2018 (508) July 2018 (363) June 2018 (296) May 2018 (303) April 2018 (461) March 2018 (784) February 2018 (666) January 2018 (730) December 2017 (788) November 2017 (1381) October 2017 (962) September 2017 (1177) August 2017 (1093) July 2017 (1015) June 2017 (956) May 2017 (1079) April 2017 (1235) March 2017 (969) February 2017 (1247) January 2017 (1409) December 2016 (1233) November 2016 (1358) October 2016 (1430) September 2016 (1378) August 2016 (1102) July 2016 (723) June 2016 (829) May 2016 (773) April 2016 (946) March 2016 (1035) February 2016 (1031) January 2016 (1043) December 2015 (1079) November 2015 (1376) October 2015 (1320) September 2015 (1310) August 2015 (1375) July 2015 (842) June 2015 (731) May 2015 (1047) April 2015 (1100) March 2015 (1199) February 2015 (1126) January 2015 (1292) December 2014 (1270) November 2014 (1445) October 2014 (1479) September 2014 (1437) August 2014 (723) July 2014 (49) December 2009 (1)
Wiregrass Auburn Club
AUBURN AUTHENTICS
al.com - Auburn Football
WarEagleWeekly.com
Mike's Weather Page
Auburn Tiger Bloggin
Auburn Tigers - Fanatics
Auburn Uniform Database
WarBlogle
Track'em Tigers
Auburn Undercover
Auburn University Official
The War Eagle Reader
Email info@auburnfamilynews.com To Advertise Here!
Tweets by aufamilynews
Auburn Family News. Awesome Inc. theme. Powered by Blogger.


text:
By Malini Bisen
The 42-day Maha Kumbh Mela (Great Kumbh Fair), which begins January 9, will draw 30 million devotees – roughly the population of Canada – to Allahabad where the holy Ganges and Yamuna rivers meet.
KUMBH MELA DATES IN 2001:
* 9 January 2001: Paush Purnima
* 14 January 2001: Makar Sankranti
* 24 January 2001: Mauni Amavasya
* 29 January 2001: Basant Panchami
* 8 February 2001: Magh Purnima
* 21 February 2001: Maha Shivratri
Periodical or annual fairs – Melas as they are known -on river banks, lake-shores, beaches and sacred places are held by Hindus to commemorate important events or in honour of Gods or Goddesses. These melas find a mention in our epics and Puranas and therefore, are a prominent feature of Hinduism from time immemorial.
The most important of these melas is the KUMBH MELA. The origin of this mela is still obscure. May be it originated as a meeting place for the main religious heads in the country who could lay down canons for the whole community as Hinduism has no supreme hierarchial head. A large number of religious heads, ascetics, high priests, philosophers and wandering mendicants form the major part of pilgrims who visit the Kumbh Mela. It is the prospect of their "Darshan" that draws the crowds.
It is said about this mela that the earth was made sacred at four places by contact with the "KUMBH"- jar-filled with "amrit" – nectar.
It is believed that the gods became emaciated as a result of the curse by a saint and wanted to regain their old strength and vigour by drinking the nectar. But they knew that they would not be able to churn the ocean by themselves and bring up the Kumbh, filled with the nectar-the Elixir of Immortality that was lying on the bed of the ocean. So they approached the Asuras – the demons who were their inveterate enemies, to join hands with them in churning the ocean. For that help, the gods promised the Asuras that they would be given a portion of the nectar when the pot of nectar is brought up from the depths of the ocean. The Asuras readily agreed.
Then the gods and the demons started churning the ocean with Mandar mountain as the rod for churning and Vasuki, the great Cobra serpent for the thick string. As the vigorous churning progressed the ocean began to yield its treasures one by one. In all thirteen precious things came out from the sea. Lastly the Sage Dhanwantri appeared with the coveted jar of nectar in his hands. The Asuras who were physically stronger than the gods seized the kumbh. At that moment Lord Indra's son Jayant, assumed the form of a gregarious rook- a ferocious bird – whisked away the jar from the hands of the demons and flew high up in the sky. The bird on its way to heaven rested at Nasik, Ujjain, Prayag and Haradwar. He took twelve days to reach paradise from the ocean. As each divine day is reckoned to be equivalent to an earth year, the KUMBH MELA is celebrated once in twelve years at each of these four places.
Another version of this story says that when the Gods and Asuras struggled for the possession of the kumbh nectar spilled from the jar and fell at these four places. The Mela is not held at all the four places on the same date but in turn and hence we have a Kumbh Mela every three years.
But at Prayag – Allahabad – where the three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the hidden Saraswati meet – the Sangam of these rivers – and the river-bed is extensive, the Kumbh Mela attracts a large multitude of people. The sight is truly spectacular ! Next to this Mela at Prayag, the Kumbh Mela at Haradwar is gorgeous too.
It is a stupendous pageant as millions upon millions of inspired people step into the ice-cold water at dawn. Disregarding the heavy expenses and the long tiring journey people come from all parts of the country and band together to form the world's and most colourful religious concourse – the KUMBH-MELA which comes after twelve long years of waiting. Hindus regard that a dip in the holy Ganga specially at Haradwar which is believed to be the gangadwar of ancient mythology. As in ages gone by, the powerful call of Kumbh Mela still draws millions of people from all over India. It is indeed fantastic to behold the ancient past blending so naturally with the reality of the present world. The large gatherings of millions are seen once every six years in Ardha-Kumbh Mela and once in twelve years in the Kumbh melas.
In these Kumbh Melas there are hermits and sages from the higher reaches of the Himalayas, Pilgrims, Swamis and missionaries from South of India and from far away lands like America. The faces of unlead ash-smeared sadhus, known as "Digambers", add to the mystic atmosphere. Bringing all of these together to the same place and at the same time certainly speaks of the overpowering strength of religious traditions in India and also of their staunch faith in their own religious precepts.
As the auspicious Kumbh Mela at Haradwar draws near thousands of emergency shelters spring up-modern tents, old style bamboo cottages like those used long ago by ancient sages. Atop of these flutter thousands of coloured flags of various religious sects. A common feature of this mela is fakirs sitting with their twisted limbs on their sharp spikes and ascetics standing on their heads. As the auspicious hour for the dip draws near some 100,000 Sadhu take out a procession, which is led by a Sadhu, riding an unsadled horse, followed by caprisoned elephant behind which the holy men march in long files. The whole corsage proceeds in regal splendour down to the water's edge with some of the Sadhus reclining under gorgeous parasols in decorated palanquins. The route of the procession is lined with crowds of pilgrims. A ripple runs through the crowd as the first sect of Sadhus steps into the water to be followed by wave after wave of Sadhus dip in the holy river. Then excited people enter the water to have their holy bath.
In the ancient literary works the importance of Haradwar as one of the seven holy cities of the Hindus is highly emphasised. It is at Haradwar, rightly known as the "gateway to reach the gods" that the great holy Ganga enters the plain after a journey of two hundred miles through the rugged mountains. Thus beauty and sanctity are seen together at Haradwar. Wooded hills, cradle the youthful Ganga not yet defiled by city wastes, as she emerges from the protective girdle of the majestic Himalayas, holding forth a promise of a million years in heaven no deities need to be propitiated, no temple bells are required to be rung! Just a bath in the magic waters of the Sacred Ganga at Haradwar and you reach nearer to heaven. As evening falls at Haradwar and hundreds of lighted floats go bobbing down in the waters of Ganga, pilgrims sitting around the fire narrate the mythical episode of the churning of the sea by the gods and the demons for a continuous thousand years to finally bring out from the sea the KUMBH containing the elixir of immortality. The crowds listen to the legend of the fight between the gods and the demons to take possession of that Kumbh and also to the many stories that have sprung from that one episode.
Apart from the Hindu devotees, there are a great many who came with truly pious sentiments. It is to such people that the Kumbh and Ardh-Kumbh melas owe their tremendous impact and popularity. Joyous and free, calm and tranquil the faithful ones leave the Melas at complete peace with themselves. The holy river and the All-powerful god in whom their faith becomes more implicit, convince them that they are a step ahead in their quest for achieving "MOKSHA" – freedom from mortality.
Most of the visitors to the Melas stay for one month in tents on the shores of the Ganga and cook their own food specially the LAPSI which is a "must" on the main day of the Kumbh.
RECIPE OF LAPSI
2 1/2 cups coarse Semolina (suji)
1/2 cup ghee
2 cups jaggery grated
1 teaspoon cardamoms crushed
1/4 cup kishmis.
1. Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed dekchi.
2. Then season the ghee with whole cloves and cardamoms.
3. Add Semolina. Make the fire medium and fry it to a light golden colour.
4. Pour milk, stir and cover the dekchi.
5. Make the fire slow and let the Semolina cook till it is soft.
6. If necessary add a little water to cook it.
7. Put in the jaggery mix well, cover the dekchi.
8. Let cook till the jaggery is absorbed and the Lapsi becomes quite thick.
9. Put in the Kishmis and sprinkle the Cardamom powder.
When served hot it is simply delicious.
Shacks up at Cal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Pork Belly Buns Recipe Taiwan Style - Pork recipe is for Christian religious people not for Muslim so if you are Muslim then ignore this recipe.
Here is what you'll need to cook Pork Belly Buns Recipe for serving 10 peoples.
In a measuring jug, place the sugar and warm water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Add the active yeast, then stir and set aside for 10-15 minutes.
Add the yeast mixture to the bowl and stir until nearly combined.
Add the oil, then stir until fully incorporated.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 10-15 minutes.
Once the dough is smooth, return it to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and leave for 1 hour until the dough has doubled in size.
Remove the dough from the bowl and knock it back by kneading for 1 minute.
Roll each piece into a ball, place onto a lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and rest for 10 minutes.
Onto a floured work surface, flatten each ball with the palm of your hand.
Roll out to 2 millimetres.
Lightly brush one side with sesame oil, then fold in half and place back onto the baking sheet. Cover and rest for 20 minutes.
Set steamer over a high heat, then steam buns for 8-10 minutes.
Slice the pork belly into 1 inch-thick pieces.
Fill a large pot with water. Put in the pork, spring onion, ginger, and cooking wine. Bring the water to boil.
Drain the pork and discard the remaining water and vegetables. Clean and dry the pot.
Return the pot to a high heat and add oil.
Fry the pork until it browned.
Add garlic, spring onion, ginger, sugar, five spice, cooking wine, and dark and light soy sauce. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
Add the water, stir, and cover.
Reduce to a low heat and simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour. Check and stir every 10 minutes or so and add water if the pot is getting dry.
Fill one bun with one slice of pork, top with coriander, pickled cabbage, and roasted crushed peanuts.


text:
Plastic Surgery, Bums & Bieber - Topical Stand-Up [Video]
10/30/2013 02:10:00 pmSNLiveVid, Video
Every week, Mr Steve N Allen's SomeNews goes live in Southbank, London, at Newsday Tuesday.
Below is a short video from this week's show. In this week's clip we look the story of the woman who injected glue into people's bums, the man who paid thousands to look like Justin Bieber and more.
Have a look...
Watch on YouTube or get it via bit torrent or download the mp4
Come and see the show live any Tuesday in London.
P.S. Here are all the topical videos from past topical shows - check them out.
P.P.S. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to get these videos, or get them in your email by joining the SomeNewsletter list.
Britney Stops Pirate Attacks
10/28/2013 12:05:00 pmSomeNews, Strange, to-app, to-email
Someone call the Geneva Convention. There's news of a terrible atrocity.
Britney Spears songs are being used to scare off pirates in Somalia. Good news Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, you're no longer the most cruel war criminal.
Following recent attack, the plan is that ships blast out the songs of Britney Spears to keep the Somali pirates away. If you want to stop someone attacking you again I'm not sure playing, "Hit Me Baby One More Time" sends out the right message.
Merchant navy officer Rachel Owens, who works on supertankers off the east coast of Africa, and said: "Her songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most. These guys can't stand Western culture or music, making Britney's hits perfect."
Great idea. People have never attacked cultures that they don't like, so I'm sure you'll be safe.
Ships in the region are in constant danger from gun-toting pirates boarding and kidnapping crews for multi-million-pound ransoms. The pirates would be left with a choice, board the boat and get millions of pounds but while you're doing it you have to listen to Britney singing that's she's not a girl and not yet a woman, or just sail on by. The security people think the pirates' hatred of Britney is worth millions.
To be fair, the statistics back them up. In 2011, there were 176 attacks on ships by gangs of bandits off the Horn of Africa. So far the number of attacks by Somali pirates on the MTV VMAs is 0. You can't fault their logic.
>Read the source story
Kidney Donor Marries Recipient
10/27/2013 08:03:00 pmSomeNews, Strange, to-app
Some people just have trouble letting go.
There's a story in the news of a woman who donated a kidney to a man four years ago. And now they have got married. I suppose it's just keeping an eye on your investment. She'll be able to watch him, make sure he's treating it right. After all, she took a long time to grow it, she won't want him eating too much protein and not drinking enough fluids. That'd take the piss. Or maybe very much not.
It's Chelsea Clair and Kyle Froelich who met in 2009. Kyle needed a new kidney and Chelsea offered hers on the day they met in Indiana, US. I don't know what he does for a living but if he isn't a used car salesmen he's wasting a talent.
One year later he received that kidney and during the hospital appointments they attended together they began to fall in love. It's clearly a relationship based on trust and respect. Some men meet a woman and just try to get inside her. He did the total opposite.
They married on October 12 and in the vows instead of "in sickness and in health" they said "I offer you my hand, my heart and my soul, as I know they will be safe with you". Hand, heart and soul on top of the kidney? Jeez, greedy much?
It's a heart warming story and I hope they will be very happy together. And I'm sure they will. They'll never row for long. At some point she'll just say, "...and I have you a kidney," and she's kind of won.
Political Mistakes - Topical Stand-Up [Video]
10/23/2013 05:31:00 pmSNLiveVid, to-email, Video
Below is a short video from this week's show. In this week's clip we look at recent political mistakes - the politicians who told a homeless man to get a job, the poor people to wear jumpers and immigrants to go home.
MP Tells Homeless Man To Get A Job
10/21/2013 07:57:00 pmPolitics, SomeNews, to-app, to-email
Q: What do you call a man with one leg and no job?
A: Work-shy layabout.
OK, not a joke with wide appeal but some members of the Tory party would be lapping it up.
Fresh on the heels of telling people who can't afford their heating bills to just put on a jumper, Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski told a one-legged homeless man to "Get a job!"
I don't know what the MP thought that would accomplish. Maybe he thought the homeless man would say, "Now why didn't I think of that? I've been living on the cold streets for ages but if I'd have thought of getting a job I could have not been. God, I feel such a nincompoop now. Aw, what am I like?!"
It was interesting to read the story on the Daily Mail website. They must realise that they could judge the MP for saying "Get a job" because the first words on every single page of their website are...
..."find a job". Subtle Daily Mail, really subtle.
Ministerial aide Daniel Kawczynski was heard telling Mark McGuigan, who was born into poverty and lost a leg through drug use: "Get a job, find some work. Yes, I know it is hard, I have struggled too."
I'm sure you have struggled and it's hard to compare how bad someone's struggle is up against someone else's struggle. But I'd probably say, if you haven't struggled one of your legs off, you haven't had it as bad as this guy.
The incident happened outside Westminster Tube station on October 7 at around 8pm. And that's the detail that makes all the difference. I had total sympathy for Mark as a man who was minding his own business when some nasty politician came up and started bothering him about not having a job. But he was at Westminster. That's where the nasty politicians are. So really, he doesn't have l... no, I won't. I'll be asked to join the Tories if I finish that.
Driving - The Board Game
10/21/2013 02:48:00 amSomeNews, Strange, to-app, to-email
New drivers in Sierra Leone will have to play a board game about the highway code before taking the wheel in a bid to cut the number of road deaths. Yeah, what a great way to teach people that driving isn't a game.
Morie Lenghor, Assistant Inspector General of the police and the game's creator said, "I realised that a lot of people don't like reading much, but what if I can put the highway code in a game that is attractive to young people." Yes, because young people are all about the board games these days. Oh, kids are always truanting off school to play Snakes and Ladders or to get a hit of Cluedo.
"It's played a bit like Scrabble," said Sarah Bendu, executive director of Sierra Leone's Road Transport Authority and someone who has clearly never played Scrabble.
I'd assume it's like Monopoly; take a chance card, "You slowed down in a box junction. Pay £60." Or "You kind of went into a bus lane because no one would let you into the next lane. Pay £60." Or "You need petrol. Pay £60." There's going to be a lot of paying if it's anything like real driving.
And if you throw a 6 and land on a West Minster Council car park, game over, bankrupt.
In the actual game competitors move models of classic cars around the board after rolling traffic light-themed dice. That's so unrealistic. Who gets to drive a classic car as a new driver? They should have to play with little figurines of clapped out old bangers, or even better they should have to ask their parents if they can borrow their piece to move round the board.
It has a good intention behind it but it makes you wonder, does game playing affect the way you drive? I hope not. I've got GTA 5.
The Toilet Restaurant
10/19/2013 05:13:00 pmSomeNews, Strange, to-app, US
A restaurant believed to be America's first toilet-themed eatery has opened just outside Los Angeles.
The first? *fakes shock* How could it be that no one before thought, "You know what would make people enjoy the food here more? Making people think about how it'll end up soon." It's just goal-orientated eating. Oh, the number of restaurant reviews I've read in the quality press that lament an establishment's lack of visible shitters... is zero, but still.
The restroomaurant has chairs that are toilets that you sit on to eat. But they're not actually plumbed in, so the one benefit of such a set up is missing. If you could go to a restaurant and eat while actually on the loo you could order whatever curry you want. And when the waiter says, "Do you have space for dessert?" just tense up for a second and say, "Now I do." Oh, it's be a hoot. Eating while actually sat on the loo; they could call it The Elvis Grill.
Not only are the chairs like toilets to keep the lavatorial theme going, the dishes are shaped like little mini-toilets. And to really stay true to the theme the food probably tastes like shit.
The menu includes pork over rice and spicy shredded chicken. What a missed opportunity. Every item should come with sweetcorn. Tut.
Speaking at the Magic Restroom Cafe, one customer said: "It's really great and interesting for me because we wanted something new to try. This is a good atmosphere for me." There must be an air freshener then.
Fat Man's Plane Seats - Topical Stand-Up [Video]
Below is a short video from this week's show. In this video we talk about a man who was so large an airline forced him to buy two seats but they weren't next to each other.
[Radio Minipodcast] 15th October 2013 - Madonna & The Fox
10/16/2013 03:38:00 amAudio, Podcasts, RadioPod
Once more I got to cover a radio show and here's a podcast of some of the bits. It originally went out on Tuesday 15th of October 2013.
In this mini-podcast we talk about a new song that is so annoying it's sure to do well, Madonna's cinema problems and a man who was so fat he had to buy two tickets to fly.
Download the mp3 or ogg
And if you enjoyed that check out my SomeNews Topical Podcast.
Condoms For Pets
10/09/2013 11:54:00 amSomeNews, Strange, to-app
Another misleading story caught my eye. I read:
"Website Offers Condoms For Pets"
And I thought, "But they'd make terrible pets. They don't do anything, you can't take them for walks. You can sit and stroke them but it seems a bit pointless on your own."
But it turns out to be a website claiming to sell condoms for pets, as in "ones you put on pets". I'm assuming you'd have to put them on for the pets. It's hard enough getting it right when you have fingers, but if you have claws you'd make a right mess. Maybe that's why you hear cats making such a terrible sound at night; it's not the female cat says she's not enjoying it, it's the male cat putting the condom on with those razor sharp claws.
Just when I was thinking, "OK, some practical issues but this is a good idea and will help to fight the spread of cat AIDS," it turns out it was a joke website. The website sends you to a campaign from the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which says, "C'mon, there's only one real fix, spay or neuter your pet."
You Google for condoms and end up on a website promoting neutering. If ever there was a good reason to be sure to read the details, this is it.
Podcast 50 - Shutdown, Benefits and Health
10/08/2013 02:15:00 amAudio, Podcast, Podcasts
It's the SomeNews Podcast, episode 50.
In this podcast:
The US Shutdown (starts 01:31)
The UK Crackdown (starts 04:18)
Drink Your Own Urine (starts 08:45)
We take a look at the Government shutdown in the US and how that whole mess came about. We see how the UK got that little bit meaner after the political party conferences, and we hear a story of a woman who says we should drink our own urine.
Download from the back-up server
Get email alert when new podcast is released
Get the m4a for iPhone/iPad
Get the podcast via bit torrent
Listen via the SomeNews Android app
Email this podcast to a friend
Also listen on...
[Radio Minipodcast] 7th October 2013 - Royal Footy & Men's Health
10/07/2013 03:30:00 pmAudio, Podcasts, RadioPod
I covered another radio show, which went out on Monday 7th of October 2013. And here's the podcast of it.
In this mini-podcast we talk about a massive football at Buckingham Palace, men's health, a pig called Kevin Bacon, and dirty protests at Rolls Royce.
Cameron's Bread Defence
10/02/2013 03:06:00 amNewspapers, Politics, SomeNews, to-app, to-email
Some people annoy me. There, I said it.
I did a joke on Twitter about the headline on The Times. They went with, "Profit is not a dirty word, says Cameron", and I said, "He's right. I tried to use it during sexting and got nowhere."
Someone took umbrage with that, and by the look it is, the problem they had with me was because I said, "He's right." I agreed with David Cameron.
They didn't see that those two words are needed to set up the joke. It can't go, "Profit is not a dirty word, says Cameron. He's over-privileged, entitled scum. I tried to use it during sexting and got nowhere." That just doesn't flow. If it's part of a joke you really shouldn't take it too seriously. If someone tweets, "Two bears walk into a bar," you don't have to try to find out which bar and call animal rescue. It's a joke. Even if you don't think it's funny, have the sense to recognise the format and go with it.
But it made me realise, some people are so blinded by party politics that they ignore the logic of what you say just to focus on their hatred of the people you're talking about. So, in honour of exactly those people I am going to do something that I don't think has ever been done on this website since it started, I am going to defend David Cameron. See, stupid people, look what you made me do.
David Cameron was asked in a radio interview if he knew the price of value bread, and he got it wrong. He said he didn't buy that bread as he "has a breadmaker". And he does. She's called Svetlana and she's on minimum wage.
But why is it a problem that he can't remember the prices of items in the shops? There's little to be gained by making our politicians play a version of Supermarket Sweep. We don't even get to see Dale, so it's pointless.
It's not like you'd ever need to send David Cameron down the shops for you. He'd be a terrible choice for that task. This is a man who leaves his own children in a pub so he'd definitely forget some items from your list.
And if he actually does go to the shops to buy bread I'd be the first to say, "Oi! Cameron. Get Tesco to deliver this stuff, you're meant to be running the country." So, he doesn't know the price of bread and I say, so what? That's not the reason to judge him. There are many reasons, but that's not one.
There we go, defending David Cameron. Next time, people on Twitter, read the context as well as the content, or I'll have to say nice things about Boris Johnson, and that could hurt me more than it hurts you.
Plastic Surgery, Bums & Bieber - Topical Stand-Up ...
[Radio Minipodcast] 15th October 2013 - Madonna & ...
[Radio Minipodcast] 7th October 2013 - Royal Footy...


text:
package com.traits.struts.authority;

import com.opensymphony.xwork2.ActionInvocation;
import com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.Interceptor;
import org.apache.struts2.ServletActionContext;

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import java.lang.reflect.Method;
import java.util.Date;

/**
 * Created by yefeng on 16/7/30.
 */

public class AuthorityInterceptor implements Interceptor {

    public void destroy() {

    }

    public void init() {

    }

    public String intercept(ActionInvocation actionInvocation) throws Exception {
        HttpServletRequest request = ServletActionContext.getRequest();
        String methodName = actionInvocation.getProxy().getMethod();
        Method currentMethod = actionInvocation.getAction().getClass()
                .getMethod(methodName, null);

        // 进行权限控制判断
        // 如果该请求方法是需要进行验证的则需执行以下逻辑
        if(currentMethod.isAnnotationPresent(Authority.class)){

            //1、判断客户是否登陆
            //从session获取当前客户信息
            User user = (User) ServletActionContext
                    .getRequest().getSession().getAttribute("user");
            if(user == null){
                System.out.println("++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++");
                System.out.println("客户还没登陆或登陆已超时!!!");
                System.out.println("++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++");
                System.out.println();
                request.setAttribute("target", request.getRequestURL().toString());
                return "login";
            }

            //获取权限校验的注解
            Authority authority=currentMethod.getAnnotation(Authority.class);
            //获取当前请求的注解的actionName
            String actionName=authority.actionName();
            //获取当前请求需要的权限
            String privilege=authority.privilege();

            //可以在此判断当前客户是否拥有对应的权限,如果没有可以跳到指定的无权限提示页面,如果拥有则可以继续往下执行。

            //if(拥有对应的权限){
            //    return actionInvocation.invoke();
            //}else{
            //    return "无权限";
            //}

            System.out.println("++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++");
            System.out.println("客户" + user.getUserName() + "在" + new Date() + "执行了" + actionName+"方法,拥有"+privilege+"权限!!");
            System.out.println("++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++");
            System.out.println();
            return actionInvocation.invoke();
        } else {
            //3、进行非权限控制判断

            System.out.println("++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++");
            System.out.println("我执行了没有??");
            System.out.println("++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++");
            return actionInvocation.invoke();
        }

    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


For example, the IT department of a small business is likely to have issues keeping up with maintenance, helping those in need of assistance, and implementing major projects. There's just not enough time in the day to make all of this happen regularly. Through co-managed IT, you can outsource specific roles to United Systems to ensure it all goes off without a hitch. The end result is a more focused in-house team that can handle their primary responsibilities while the rest is handled by trusted IT experts. To learn more, reach out to us at (405) 523-2162.
OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes, which is similar to normal LED technology. Light emitting diodes, or LED, are a semiconducting light source that produces light through moving electrons into defined spots with a screen's emissive layer. It basically transforms electricity into light. OLED uses practically the same concept, but rather than involving individual LED bulbs lighting up, OLED uses light emitting films. This gives the OLED display the ability to produce higher contrast images. In other words, the lights are lighter and the darks are darker. This is due to the makeup of the OLED film (hydrocarbon chains rather than semiconductors), which also means that they consume less energy (electricity).
An OLED panel contains several layers. The substrate layer acts as a structural framework; the anode, a film that draws electrons; the cathode, a film that provides the electrons; and the organic layer between them. The organic layer also contains two layers: the conducting layer that has holes, and the emissive layer where light is produced.
The various types of OLED displays are used by different types of devices. Passive-matrix OLED has a slower refresh rate, which results in them being used on devices that have more static images. Active-matrix OLED devices have a faster refresh rate, making them ideal for devices like televisions, smartphones, and other displays that are always changing.
Reduced power consumption: An OLED display doesn't need any of the electronics used to power the back light that were needed for traditional LED displays. Therefore, it uses less power.
Improved picture quality: OLED uses color filters that can produce warmer colors and darker blacks. Additionally, OLED displays don't have shutter arrays, meaning they can be produced with a higher refresh rate, as well as better viewing angles.
Lightweight durability: Since OLED displays don't have the backlight and shutter array technology found in ordinary LED displays, OLED devices are generally much lighter and flexible. A new innovation called inkjet-based printable OLED displays can reduce the nitrogen volume in a display and enhance the thermal uniformity of the display. This enables manufacturers to make more malleable displays, like wallpaper-like screens.
Lower costs: Like any kind of technology, the more it's used, the less costly it becomes to make. This drives down prices and makes them more affordable for everyone.
OLED displays are showing up all over the place, and they are only going to grow in popularity. How can your business benefit from this new technology? Find out by giving us a call at (405) 523-2162.
Businesses can benefit from the use of personal mobile devices in the workplace, yet there are also potential dangers in allowing mobile and Internet of Things devices to access your network. In order to reduce these dangers, you need to put some limits and guidelines on the use of such devices in the workplace.
Hackers have always gone after industries that are profitable, or hold sensitive information that can be lucrative when sold under the table. As such, retailers that accumulate financial credentials are often hit by hacks. The entertainment industry is no different, and hackers continue to grow craftier in their pursuit of wealth and power. Not even Steam, the PC gamer's most valuable software solution, is safe from the dangers of hacking attacks.
Steam is a widely-used web-based distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation that's used for online multiplayer gaming, as well as many other video game-related situations. It's actually relatively similar to cloud computing. Steam is one of the biggest online gaming retailers with over 140 million users. In October 2013, it was estimated that 75 percent of all games purchased online were through Steam. If nothing else, Steam is a valid online computing outlet that hackers want to take advantage of.
As anyone who has a hobby will understand, a gamer's collection of games, virtual items, or online currency, will accrue a self-perceived value of sorts. While this might seem like a worthless asset to compromise, it's introducing a new type of hacker to the online environment. People who want to steal games, achievements, and other in-game assets are capable of doing so with a new malware called Steam Stealer. Perhaps the most terrifying thing about Steam Stealer is the fact that it's so easy to use. If hackers find that they can get away with stealing seemingly benign in-game items, they might find that they want to go for something with a little more practical use, like credit card numbers. This presents a unique situation which could provide amateur hackers with the skills and confidence they need to attempt more risky and detrimental hacks.
Since Steam Stealer is easy to use and afford, even the average citizen can experience the bittersweet taste of hacking. With included instructions, user manuals, APIs, and a price tag of $15, people with no knowledge of malware can easily use Steam Stealer. Compared to other Malware as a Service offerings, Steam Stealer is a small price to pay and is relatively simple to use. Once people experience the adrenaline of using malware to steal fellow gamers' in-game objects, what's stopping them from pursuing the rush even further?
The end result could very well be hackers who won't be satisfied until they've hit the motherload; financial information and other products purchased through Steam's online interface. Unsurprisingly, Steam experiences quite a large amount of takeovers -- around 77,000 accounts suffer from breaches each month. There's a definite precedent for this type of hack, and criminals obviously see the potential for profits.
The best way to keep your Steam account safe from hackers is for users to practice a combination of two-factor authentication, and to always keep an eye out for potential phishing scams. Changing passwords regularly is an ideal way to keep hackers from accessing accounts, and closely monitoring URLs that are sent through chats will keep you from visiting potentially malicious sites.
These tips probably sound familiar; for good reason. They're valuable tips that help you stay safe whether you're working on important work, or you're on a quest to "slay the goblin lord." Even if Steam is an online gaming platform, there are still valuable lessons that can be learned from it. While a business owner might see their data as an immensely valuable asset, gamers view their libraries in a similar way.
How often does your technology experience trouble? If your business is constantly dealing with technical hiccups, your assets that are meant to be a boon to your organization, can quickly become a nuisance that holds you back. How can you take better care of your technology, and use it to usher in a new era of productivity?
Probably the most attractive feature of Google Chromecast is that it essentially turns any compatible screen into a smart TV, allowing you to utilize popular apps via your smartphone or desktop that's equipped with Chromecast capabilities. Here are five of the best Google Chromecast features that new users will want to take advantage of.
Stream music: If you're already using popular music streaming apps like Spotify and Pandora, then you're going to love having the ability to cast your favorite songs on the big screen. What's more, if your television is equipped with a rockin' sound system, then you can get rid of that bulky CD and record player and replace them both with Google Chromecast.
Stream video: The video watching options for Google Chromecast are as vast as there are ways to digitally watch a video. Some of the more popular uses for watching video via Chromecast are by utilizing apps like YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix. Basically, if your computer can play a video, you can cast it on your TV.
View pictures: With Chromecast, you can turn your TV into a screensaver that cycles through HD photos. This is a sure way to enhance any room. Google Chrome actually has an app specifically designed for this purpose which taps into thousands of photo libraries ranging from NASA, 500x, and even your own!
Mirror your device's browser: With Chromecast, whatever is going on in Chrome can easily be casted to your TV. This feature has the potential to really enhance office presentations. Additionally, it's easy for multiple users to take control of the big screen by casting what's on their device, which can help someone explain their point at an office meeting.
Use VideoStream: One handy app made for Chromecast is VideoStream. This is a super easy way to drag video files to your Chrome browser and play them on your Chromecast-connected TV. Every serious Chromecast user will want to download this free app.
Actually, these five Google Chromecast features are just the beginning of what this little device can do. There are several apps designed specifically for it and they're worth exploring if you get the chance. Do you use Google Chromecast? What are your favorite uses for this fantastic product? Sound off in the comments.
No security solution is perfect. Each one has its own set of pros and cons. For example, relying completely on an automated solution is thorough, but it will flag plenty of threats that aren't really threats (aka, false positives). Meanwhile, a human overseeing security is great for spotting worrisome trends, but a human can't possibly catch every single attack. With this dynamic in mind, a team of researchers from MIT has successfully blended the two.
The team, hailing from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, developed a security platform combining the strength of human involvement with the effectiveness of artificial intelligence. Given the name A.I.², this new platform is capable of detecting 85 percent of incoming attacks while reducing reported false positives by 20 percent.
How A.I.² combines AI and human involvement is actually quite genius. To begin, the "untrained" machine reports a sample set of results to a human expert. These results are informed by machine learning and are checked against the 200 most important problems. The human expert then checks over and corrects the machine's work, with the intention of finding mistakes and false positives. Subsequently, the human-checked results are inputted to A.I.², the machine learns, and the next set of tests will have fewer errors. This process is then repeated with the security platform adapting each time to look for what its human teacher looks for.
In a paper presented at the IEEE International Conference on Big Data Security, research scientist Kalyan Veeramachianeni summarized, "You can think about the system as a virtual analyst. It continuously generates new models that it can refine in as little as a few hours, meaning it can improve its detection rates significantly and rapidly."
Of course, the precedent of effectiveness set here by combining human expertise and oversight with A.I. has far-reaching ramifications for other A.I. initiatives currently in development; initiatives that have both humanity's best and worst interests in mind. Although, for now, those of us in the IT world are celebrating this A.I.-enabled technology for being one giant leap forward in security analysis accuracy.
It's important to keep in mind that a platform like A.I.² is still years away from being available to the average business. Therefore, we recommend that you stay on top of your network security by following best practices, which combines automated software solutions and human vigilance in order to combat the latest threats. United Systems is standing by to assist you with all of your company's network security needs. To equip your business with the most comprehensive IT security solutions on the market, call us today at (405) 523-2162.
There's no denying that your district's or business's productivity suite is one of its most valuable software solutions. Cloud services like Google Apps for Work and Microsoft Office 365 continue to be huge game-changers, and it's been found that their increasing popularity is thanks to the convenience of providing mobile access to important data and applications.
The success of "software as a service," or SaaS, is a significant trend that you need to leverage to your advantage. In essence, businesses that use SaaS are paying a flat rate for a productivity suite or similar service. This software can then be accessed through the cloud via an Internet connection, making it both flexible enough to add new users, and accessible enough to be used anywhere on most any device. According to BetterCloud, 91 percent of Google Apps users claim that SaaS helps them more than traditional desktop applications, while 68 percent of Office 365 users say the same about Office.
If your district or business is looking for a way to improve operations, you can contact United Systems at (405) 523-2162. We can equip your business with the software solutions and cloud computing environment it needs to stay productive.
Regardless of how your didtrict's business's administration is set up, you should be aware that anyone in a position of authority must have a basic understanding of how IT, and its related responsibilities, functions for your district or business. Here are four ways that you can learn more about how IT works within your organization.
As a leader within your organization, you need to lead by example. You should be aware of who to contact within your company for any IT-related issues, and this contact information should be shared with other employees within your organization. By cooperating with IT, your district or business can improve operations so that you don't encounter a roadblock when it comes time to upgrade to more recent technology, or perform maintenance on critical hardware and software.
Dealing with vendors is part of doing business with technology. Your organization likely has several different vendors for your various hardware and software solutions. Knowing how to communicate with them is key to getting the most from your products. In other words, you should at least be privy to information concerning your organization's relationship with its vendors.
Employees should use long, complex passwords.
Employees should use two-factor authentication.
Employees should be able to identify potential online scams.
If your employees bring their own devices (BYOD) to the workplace for use on your company network, you have a responsibility to ensure that they're following proper protocol. Do you have a BYOD policy? If not, you should consider setting one up. You need to have some sort of oversight in regards to what data is being used and accessed on what devices. The idea is to restrict the flow of data through permissions so that you can know how it's being used, and to limit its exposure to threats.
This might seem like a lot to take in, but you don't have anything to worry about. Most of these issues can be resolved simply by having an IT technician on-hand to consult in times of need. If you don't have an in-house IT department, this might seem like an impossible task. Thankfully, United Systems makes it easy for your district or business to keep your technology functioning properly and running without incident; all thanks to outsourced managed IT services.
Most of the benefits of working remotely come in the form of reduced expenses. For example, you don't have to purchase as much hardware, and your energy costs will dramatically decrease. Considering how much energy it takes to heat or air condition your office, and the amount of electricity the average workstation eats up, you could be looking at significant savings. Plus, giving your employees the choice of where to work can be empowering, pushing them to work harder and improve the quality of work.
Granted, this can only happen if your team is equipped with the technology to handle their daily workload. Here are three technologies that your team needs if you want to ensure that they can perform to your specifications.
One major pain point for remote employees is that they have trouble accessing files and applications stored locally on your company's network. Since these employees work off-site, rather than in your business's office, they'll have trouble accessing files through the traditional method. Being unable to access critical files can be troublesome, but it's not incapable of being resolved. Using a VPN allows remote employees to securely access files and applications that are stored in an online company network, which promotes productivity without sacrificing security. Another huge plus is that you control the access to files, preventing critical company data from being spread across on your employees' personal devices.
If you share your business's data in the cloud, you can deploy files, information, and applications directly through the Internet. This helps employees access information that would otherwise be difficult to access. The cloud in general is great for minimizing your IT footprint, and with improved data deployment, you can let your team work from anywhere in the world. Even if they're on business trips or traveling, as long as they have an Internet connection, they'll have access to data that they need to do their jobs.
Communication is critical while in the office, but it's even more so for your remote workers. If your team is constantly making outbound calls, you need a solution that will allow them to do so while retaining your business's phone number. Furthermore, if you're ever in a position where you need to contact them directly, you should be able to do so through email, instant messaging, or a phone call. While email and IM are easy enough to accomplish through a PC, phone calls are a bit trickier. With a VoIP solution, you can transfer your voice over the Internet, which makes instantaneous communication even easier for both voice and video chat.
If you're going to let your team work remotely, it's your responsibility to ensure that they have the tools to do so. To find out how you can make this vision a reality, contact United Systems at (405) 523-2162 today.
Businesses all over the world are taking advantage of two-factor authentication, causing the password's value to depreciate over time. Passwords aren't powerful enough to keep users safe from advanced threats. Hackers are finding ways to punch holes in even the most comprehensive security solution, forcing users to focus on improving security through other means.
One way to do this is by using Windows 10's built-in PIN system. Here's how you can set up a PIN number, including how you can change or reset it if need be.
Using a PIN offers a few unique benefits over the traditional password. For example, Windows 10 uses the same password as your Microsoft account, which means that if this password is stolen or compromised by a hacker, they can access other services tied to your Microsoft account. If you're using a PIN to access your PC, the PIN is unique to your Windows 10 device, meaning that a hacker would have to locally enter the PIN, making it a much less risky gambit than using a password.
First, you need to click on the search bar at the bottom of the screen and type Settings. Then, select Sign-in options in the left column. Scroll down to the PIN section in the right column, and click Add. You'll then be prompted to verify your password. Once you've done so, click OK.
The longer the PIN, the better the security: You've heard all about how using a complex password is a best practice, and the same can be said for your PIN. Make it as long as possible-- this makes it more difficult for hackers to guess.
Refrain from using PINs from other accounts: Everyone has credit cards that they use a PIN for, but these numbers shouldn't be used for every single account you have. You should have individual PINs for each of your different accounts. Otherwise, one account being compromised could lead to multiple breaches.
Use as many different numbers as possible: In much the same way that a password should contain variable letters, you want to stay away from short PINs with largely the same number.
Windows 10 makes it easy to change your PIN. You need to navigate back through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, and tap Change underneath PIN. You'll then be taken to the Change your PIN screen.
If you need to reset your PIN, click I forgot my PIN next to the Change button. This will let you reset your PIN. Keep in mind that you'll need to use your current account password to do so.
For more great tips, be sure to subscribe to United System's blog.
Most hacking attacks are the result of a flaw or vulnerability found within the code of a program or operating system, but we rarely take into account the ones that don't. Hackers often take advantage of the human side of hacking as well, a process known as "social engineering." This is usually the act of conning users into handing over personal information of their own free will, and it's surprisingly effective.
Communications solutions are vital to the functionality of your organization. Among several other necessities, your telephony solution stands head and shoulders above the rest as one of the most important. Are you still using a legacy phone system? If so, you should consider switching to a VoIP system.
When you mention the term 'disaster recovery,' most people think about the big ground-shattering events like tornados, fires, floods, ice storms, etc. In fact, the Washington Post reported in April that Oklahoma has been more susceptible to weather related calamities than any other state in recent years. While these natural events are certainly disasters and devastating in their own right, smaller things can constitute as a disaster for your business, and they aren't seasonal.


Rescue The Beagles (7.8mb made by 16x16, no install .zip) is a great little retro platformer in 8bit style. Fullscreen or windowed mode with 2 playable characters and a couple of game soundtracks will have you flash backing the the 80's. With it's smooth, quick gameplay and side scrolling screen, you will frantically start collecting items/animals, while, running, climbing and parachuting your way to a high score. A pleasure to play even though I wasn't very good at it. You will definitely need practice with this freeware game to achieve any decent scores.
This game will take practice. One little tip, don't drop down to another level of too greater distance or you Will die. Collect as many ropes and parachutes as possible.
- gamepad support, for both; hat and analog joystick.
- Placid Flow Bonus - a new type of bonus you earn at the end of each level if you don't harm anybody on the level. It's well worth going for as it rewards you with +200% of the total level score.
- bigger HUD option (which is on by default).
- option to mark soon-to-be-lost beagles with flashing red circles, for people who have trouble spotting a beagle.
- parachute backpack and rope are now visible on player avatar to indicate the particular resource is available.


text:
A cartoon guide to Facebook's Relay, part 4: How it all fits together
So far you've seen how:
Relay lets you say what data you need with GraphQL in part 1
Relay fetches data from the server in part 2
Relay syncs changes back up to the server in part 3
Now let's see how all the different parts work together.
Caveat: this is only an approximation
In the cartoons up until now the scale of the diagrams has been 1:1… each arrow has (pretty much) represented a single function call.
For these diagrams, the scale is closer to 1:100. This is because Relay is doing so much for you.
Flux is a pattern. Relay is a framework. Flux just gives you guidelines on how to structure your application. Relay gives you concrete functionality. And lots of it.
This means that the number of different parts in the system has ballooned.
From the diagrams, it could look like implementing something with Relay requires a lot more work. The truth is, these extra characters take care of a lot of work for you. They are responsible for the magic.
You don't really need to know every detail of what they do. In fact, there's only a small number of parts that you even need to be aware of.
But cracking things open and seeing how they work is the fun part! So I'm going to try to give you a rough approximation of Relay's inner workings.
The chorus line of characters
Even leaving out some of the lesser cast members, there are still a bunch of them. In my head, I divide them into 4 groups.
The user interface takes the data from the system and makes it understandable to the user. It also gives the user a way to change that data. It takes user input and turns it into something the system understands.
The parts of the user interface are:
The root container — Kind of like the root component in Redux, the root container is a CEO. It chooses the top level component to use for the page. It also tells the app where in the graph to start the query. But after that, it's pretty hands off.
Containers — The container is like a project manager for the component. It has a list of all of the data the component needs to do its job. The container is on top of getting the data from the rest of the system. This allows the component to focus on its job.
Components — A component in Relay is pretty much the same as it is in Flux. It is a presenter. It just knows how to format data into output that people understand (via HTML).
Relay Renderer — In some ways, the Relay Renderer is like the view layer binding from Redux. Like an IT department, it hooks up the container to the store.
Mutations —You saw mutations in part 3. They are like action creators in Flux, but they do more. They provide blueprints for the mutation system to follow for different user changes.
Data storage is handled by the store. Even though I'm only representing it as one character here, there are many different objects involved.
The UI talks to it whenever it wants data. It works with the query and mutation systems to make sure it has the data that the UI needs. The store also has a notification system. Each component gets custom-tailored updates when data it uses changes. The store handles all of the details of wiring up these notifications, so you don't have to think about it.
The query/mutation systems
The query and mutation systems prepare queries. They also keep track of what queries have gone out and what data needs to come in for a query to be complete. You met them in part 2 and part 3.
Two characters sit on either side of the cloud: the server on one side and the network layer (which is on the client) on the other.
The server — As you saw in part 1, the GraphQL server is like a librarian. It isn't the library; it doesn't actually store the information. You tell the GraphQL server what information you need, and it figures out where to go in the stacks to get that information for you.
The network layer—The network layer manages all communication with the server. It is like an operator in The Matrix. It is responsible for getting requests into the cloud and making sure responses get out of the cloud. If the response doesn't come out of the cloud correctly, the operator will retry twice before pulling the plug. It also handles errors.
The first render
Let's see what happens when your app is first loaded.
Step 1: Starting the process
When the page is loaded, React starts rendering. The first thing it reaches is the root container. The root container passes off responsibility to Relay Renderer.
Relay Renderer is in charge of making sure the data is available to the UI. But because the app isn't mounted, it knows that none of this data is available. It tells the store to start priming the cache.
Step 2: Priming the cache
The store needs to know what data to get for the cache. Relay Renderer figures out what the starting point for the query is (the query root) and passes it to the store. It also gives the store a callback.
The store passes those off to the query system. Then the query system works with the store to figure out what data is already in the cache. We looked at this in part 2.
Step 3: Building the query
The query system builds the query.
I didn't show this in part 2, but the query system talks to the containers here. It asks them what data they need. Each container passes off a query fragment which specifies the data its component needs.
The query system stitches together the full query out of all of these fragments.
Step 4: Trimming down the query and queuing it up
As we saw in part 2, the query system removes pending requests from the query. Then it adds the query to the queue of requests for the network layer to send out (and also adds it to its own list of pending requests).
Note: things start to go a little asynchronous here. I don't have a good way to show this in the diagrams.
The query system is done with it's work for now. It queues up a message for the Relay Renderer with the ready state. But first, the network layer needs to do it's job…
Step 5: Sending the query to the GraphQL server
The network layer picks up the queue of requests that the query tracker left for it. It sends the requests off to the GraphQL server.
The network layer has nothing else to do 'til the server responds. It lets the rest of the system do its thing while it waits.
The message that the query system put in the queue is sent. The Relay Renderer gets the ready state.
Step 6: Getting the data back and writing it to the cache
The network layer hears back from the GraphQL server. It transforms the response to JSON. Then the query system picks it up and passes it off to the store. The store adds it to the local cache.
Step 7: Notifying the renderer
Once the data is written to the cache, the query system is notified. It sends out the message to Relay Renderer with a new ready state, letting the Renderer know that the cache is primed and ready to go.
Relay Renderer will then prepare an object that the containers can use to get their data from the store. It calls setState(), passing this object down to the containers.
Step 8: Getting the data from the store to the UI
Using the object that Relay Renderer passed down, the container will set up a "resolver". It will use the resolver to get its data from the store.
Note: This is handled automatically in the container prototype's componentWillMount() implementation.
During this process, the store also sets up some observers. These observers will notify the resolver, which will notify the container, whenever this data has changed.
Now that the container has the data, it calls setState() to pass it down to the component.
So that's how I think about all the different parts of Relay. Hope it helps!


The construction industry is continually being challenged to deliver improvements in the outcome of projects and programmes of work. Collaboration and better integration of teams are seen as ways to achieve this.
NEC has been at the forefront of the process, creating a suite of contracts that allow all members of the supply chain to be engaged on similar terms and conditions.
Demand for better integration of teams continues – particularly for large, highly complex projects and programmes. In these situations, some clients have adopted a fully integrated delivery model known as an 'alliance'.
An alliance is where the client and key members of the supply chain are engaged under a single multi-party contract with shared objectives, risks and rewards. In the UK and internationally, most notably Australia, alliances have delivered better outcomes for both clients and suppliers, with increased efficiency and fewer disputes.
In 2015, the UK government advisory body Infrastructure UK published 'Improving Infrastructure Delivery: Alliancing Code of Practice'. This said there was a clear business case for using alliancing as a procurement route, with increased efficiency being delivered through behavioural and cultural change.
Existing NEC contracts are bi-party arrangements onto which an alliance arrangement can be overlaid, such as by using secondary option X12. In 2016, NEC worked with the UK Infrastructure Client Group to publish Guidance on implementing alliancing using NEC3 contracts.
NEC users have requested the development of a distinct alliancing form in which all participants are engaged under a single multi-party contract. This has led to development of the new NEC4 Alliance Contract (ALC), which will initially be published in consultative form to allow industry feedback.
The basis of the contract is that all parties work together in achieving client objectives, and share in the risks and benefits of doing so.
The new ALC is therefore very different from other contracts in the NEC4 suite. However, it follows where possible the same principles and structure of other NEC4 contracts with familiar provisions, proactive management processes and terminology.
The potential benefit of using the new ALC is a much deeper collaboration between all project participants, bound by common interests and reduced grounds for dispute.
Creation of a commercial model which rewards expected behaviours.
Alignment of goals with client and suppliers.
Use of integrated systems and processes.
Commercial performance is measured at an alliance rather than individual party level, with reward criteria based on client's objectives. All alliance members are engaged on an open-book basis with project-specific incentive arrangements agreed at the outset.
This article was originally published here on 26 June 2017 by ICE. It was written by Matthew Garratt and Ian Heaphy, NEC4 Contract Board Members.
NEC contracts and collaborative working.
NEC4 Design, Build and Operate Contract.
NEC4 - legal and insurance aspects.
NEC contract change management systems.
NEC4 contract creates a procurement alliance arrangement for all stakeholders.


Masterful design & modern luxury in this 4 bed 4.5 bath home on just over 10 ac. View of hillsides to N & W. Wonderful sunsets! Grand 2 story entry w/ cherry stairs. Granite & cherry KT w/ formal & informal dining. 1st fl guest suite w/heated tile bath, shower, closet, bonus rm. Master bed w/ walk in closet, bath w/heated tile, Jacuzzi tub, shower, decorative etched glass. Big picture windows! 2nd upstairs bed & connecting bath. 2nd fl office. Enjoy gatherings in generously sized living rm & sprawling outdoor deck w/hot tub & stone patio. Finished basement currently sports bar w/ family rm, large bed w/ full bath. Garage & circular drive. Stone wall. 1st fl laundry rm w/ half bath, mud rm from garage. Central AC, Hamilton Village Electric! Back abuts preservation land with pond view.